Pro-Wrestling: EVE is one of the most successful promotions in the UK and beyond with regards to its spotlight on female talent and focus on high-quality in-ring competition. In an industry that has for so long been male-dominated and centred on a certain kind of individual as the target audience, it is promotions like EVE fighting against the reductive stereotypes of women’s pro-wrestling in the west that have littered the media for far too long. In recent decades through the work of promotions in Japan (AJW, TJPW, Sendai Girls, STARDOM, Marvelous, Marigold, etc), and in the western world of wrestling (in Shimmer and Pro Wrestling: EVE), women’s wrestling is taking the spotlight is so rightly deserves. Many of the world’s biggest names have stepped onto the canvas in EVE. From the likes of Jamie Hayter, Toni Storm, Riho, and Alex Windsor, to legends like Emi Sakura, Meiko Satomura, Aja Kong, Manami Toyota and current international stars like Syuri, Miyu Yamashita, Momo Watanabe and Utami Hayashishta. It’s not just the best women’s wrestling in the world. In many cases it’s some of the best wrestling in the world.
Founded by Dann and Emily “The Lollipunk Lady” Read, EVE originally started in 2010, but picked up steam from 2016 with their events emanating monthly from London in various venues across the city before finally settling into their current home, Walthamstow’s “Big Penny Social.” Their next event, “Global Women’s Strike IV” on October 3rd, sees a major main event tag team match, pitting British standouts Safire Reed and Nina Samuels on opposite sides of the ring with each of them teaming with a major international star. Reed will be tagging with DASH Chisako (making a rare UK appearance), and Samuels will be teaming with VENY. Reed replaces Millie McKenzie, who recently announced she will be stepping away from the ring while she recovers from illness. Best wishes go out to McKenzie, always a fan-favourite and our much-loved Suplex Gremlin. We can not wait to see you back in the ring when you are fit and ready.
It’s these connections with Japanese promotions like TJPW and Sendai Girls, among others, that make EVE such a unique platform for UK names. They frequently get the opportunity to face names they otherwise wouldn’t get the chance to in the very promotion that helped shape them into becoming the world-class talents they are today. Elsewhere on the card, the only other confirmed match at the time of writing will see American Independent star B3CCA taking on a favourite in the Britwres scene, “The Maiden of Metal” Rayne Leverkusen in what EVE describes as “POP vs METAL.” Other talents on the card include a familiar face to the company in Su Yung returning to face Session Moth Martina, and Vipress–a standout of promotions like DEFY and GCW– taking on “All Violence” Anita Vaughan.
Speaking of partnerships, let’s shift gears and talk about EVE’s latest partner promotion, one many will be familiar with:
AEW:
On November 7th, EVE will be hosting “Elite Encounters”, a show pitting the best in AEW against the best in the UK, with names like Willow Nightingale (making her EVE debut), Kris Statlander, and Nyla Rose confirmed to appear so far. Last month saw names like Julia Hart, Skye Blue, Queen Aminata, Trish Adora, and Billie Starkz take to the ring also, so it is safe to say that the connection between the two promotions is blossoming well. Such a connection affords talent that may not have been as heavily featured on AEW television (the likes of Rose, Adora, or Starkz) the chance to show that they are still impeccable talents in their own right and merely need the platform–especially internationally–to show it and get fans to invest their stocks in supporting these athletes.
The partnership may also be due in large part to the fact that some of the AEW roster have been former regular names on EVE, looking particularly at Alex Windsor and Jamie Hayter, but also the likes of Toni Storm and Emi Sakura during the earlier days of the promotion. We’ve seen some of these names return to EVE in the last year, but one thing many have fantasy-booked has been Storm making a return appearance to the promotion–there’s no guarantee that it’s on the cards or ever has been, but as a regular attendee of EVE’s shows, you can let a person dream, right? Word must also be expressed towards Will Ospreay’s involvement in the promotion as one of the producers working behind the scenes, alongside the likes of Dann Read to ensure the show goes smoothly. A part of EVE having more eyes on the product can be placed on Ospreay using his platform and privilege in the male-dominated industry to highlight the promotion’s upcoming shows and the talent putting on show-stealing performances on any given night. Names like Anita Vaughan, Rayne Leverkusen, Nina Samuels, and Safire Reed, to name a few.
Let’s take a look at the confirmed matches for November’s “Elite Encounters” so far:
Yuu Returns to EVE:
Yuu makes her return to EVE six months after her last appearance for the company in their show on International Women’s Day entitled “Women Behaving Badly.” It was on that show she pulled double duty, first defeating Sadie Gibbs after an impactful match in sub-10 minutes, laying Gibbs out with a high-angle powerbomb only to come back later in the night in tag-team competition. There, she teamed with TNA’s Myla Grace to take on the then-tag team champions Lucy Sky and fellow TNA signee Harley Hudson– “Hard Up North” in a non-title match. Though the team would suffer defeat, Yuu and Grace were applauded by the EVE faithful for their efforts, with the crowd chanting for Yuu to “please come back.” A few months later, she announced her retirement for the end of the year, with her final match being scheduled for December 28th’s Sendai Girls show. To close out her decade-long career, Yuu will take on her Team 200KG teammate, Chihiro Hashimoto.
At the time of writing it’s not confirmed who Yuu will be facing in her final UK appearance, but going by her previous matches against the likes of veteran Nina Samuels and up-and-coming star Safire Reed in January’s SHE-1 tournament, the current state of the roster is more than capable of making sure that Yuu closes out her career in EVE on a high. Debuting toward the end of 2015, Yuu has spent the majority of her career competing in Japan for various promotions across the country. Promotions like TJPW, DDT, STARDOM, Pro Wrestling Wave, and Sendai Girls have all been graced with her presence, whether it be in singles competition or as part of Team 200KG. These various tenures were also accompanied by more than her fair share of encounters with championship gold. Holding the AAAW Tag Team Championship with Hashimoto, the Goddesses of Stardom Championship with Nanae Takahashi, and the EVE International Title for what was a record-setting 789 days, among others.
Adored by fans across the world for her lovable personality and devastating offence, Yuu will forever be remembered as a powerhouse who would chop through her opponents’s chests before dumping them on their necks with powerbombs or delivering impactful splashes, all with a smile on her face. Regardless of who stands across the ring from her in November, they are in for a hard-fought match, especially with the Big Penny faithful behind
Willow Nightingale vs. Lucy Sky:
Confirmed during September’s “Strong Style Women” event, Willow Nightingale will make her long-awaited EVE debut against former EVE Tag Team Champion Lucy Sky. Sky’s year in EVE has been littered with success, beginning the year by capturing the tag team championships alongside Harley Hudson for a six-month reign that included a hard fought match against the team that would ultimately unseat them as champions in July, the team of Rhio and Emersyn Jane– “Big Beefy Bitches.”
Sky’s strength-based, powerhouse style will be interesting to see go up against Willow’s, as both are known for their big impact moves (powerbombs, pounces, lariats), as well as their stiff strikes. What will make for the greatest difference between them will be their reception from the crowd in attendance, with the boos for Sky and her native Wigan resounding just as loud as the cheers for Willow finally gracing EVE and Big Penny Social with her presence. As for Nightingale, seeing her in an EVE ring is something fans of the promotion have long clamoured for, especially since the involvement of AEW talent picked up in the earlier stages of this year, with Forbidden Door weekend being a prime example of that.
The “nothing matters, smile anyway” mantra and Willow’s infectious personality fits so well into the movement that EVE has been creating in the last decade; the aim of each show is to enjoy quality pro wrestling in a judgement-free space, all are welcome and all are accepted. It’s a space to forget about the problems of the everyday and have a great time with great people and great wrestling. Willow walks into EVE against an opponent hungry for opportunity, looking to prove themselves as a singles star in their own right and a main-event player for EVE going forward. There will be lariats. There will be powerbombs. And we will love every second of it. Will the “Babe with the Power” prevail, or will the welcoming party be spoiled by Sky in her biggest challenge yet?
Kris Statlander vs ??? — EVE International Title Match:
Statlander makes her third appearance for the promotion with this match, the first being her win against “All Violence” Anita Vaughan for the International Championship. At the time of writing, Statlander is confirmed to be making a title defence, but her opponent has not been confirmed. I have a few ideas, so I’ll take this chance to issue a few predictions on who I would pick to face the champion on a cold Stat-urday night in Walthamstow. With the AEW Women’s World Championship also around her waist, all of the momentum is on her side, making it quite a challenge for whoever stands opposite her in the ring, come November.
After the amazing breakout year Safire Reed has had, going head to head with the likes of Mercedes Mone and challenging in main event matches across various promotions, it only seems fair to consider her as a potential challenger. Reed’s high-impact style would make for an interesting clash against Stat’s raw power approach. Perhaps a match with a returning Kanji would be an interesting challenge for Statlander, taking a more technical route to a title defence? Like Reed, Kanji’s presence on the world stage has grown exponentially this year thanks to a great showing against Mercedes Mone, leading to many wishing to see Nottingham’s Own receive an opportunity in North and Central America, as others British wrestlers have in the past. This has somewhat come to fruition with Kanji entering CMLL’s Grand Prix de Amazonas.
A rematch against the individual she defeated would also make for an interesting story going into a title defence on such a big stage. Stat vs. Vaughan II could spell a potential MOTN contender, with AV’s new stoic attitude and “All Violence” mantra coming across in dominant fashion in her recent matches going up against Statlander’s ever-growing momentum both in EVE and AEW, leading to championship success in both promotions. A final potential opponent, and somewhat of a selfish pick, would see Kris Statlander defending the International Championship against a returning Charli Evans, the current reigning PWA Champion over in Australia and familiar face in EVE as part of the Medusa Complex tag team alongside Millie McKenzie. CHEVS vs. STAT would make for one hell of a match graphic, and if it doesn’t happen at November’s show, I hope it happens somewhere, somehow, down the line.
Whoever gets the opportunity against Two-Strap Stat will not be in for an easy night. That’s a guarantee.
Nyla Rose vs. Rhio — EVE Championship Match:
Having won the title from Nightshade at the promotion’s Forbidden Door weekend show, “EVE vs The World”, Nyla Rose found herself on the receiving end of a post-match ambush at the hands of “The Leader of the Pack”, Rhio. Rhio is someone who has held championships up and down the length and breadth of the UK, having MOTN contenders on stacked cards against the likes of Kanji and Meiko Satomura in this year alone. I feel the story of this match will come in the form of Rhio trying to use the power game she’s utilised so well against others and seeing how this comes when faced against Nyla’s own indomitability. It strikes me as a war of attrition on both sides, the gradual wearing down of the opponent through the struggle to gain the upper hand to land the big impact manoeuvres that will shift the momentum in favour of the individual delivering the move. For Nyla, it will be her first appearance in the UK and first defence, since winning the title in August. It’s the first defence of a title that can set the trend for the reign going forward, or can even signal the end of the reign should Rhio be victorious in cutting the newly dubbed “N8-EVE Beast’s” time as champion short. Doing so would be a breath of fresh air for Rhio in terms of establishing a new presentation much like Anita Vaughan did earlier this year in entering a championship match and dismantling a newly crowned champion in Skye Smitson in quick, decisive fashion. Whether Rhio takes this as inspiration and continues the trend will remain to be seen in November.
The Community of Pro Wrestling: EVE:
From the moment you enter the building, there is a buzz in the air that is unique to an EVE show day. Seeing people playing table-tennis or darts to the left of you as you walk in, people to the right retrieving their 2-for-1 cocktails from the bar before the end of happy hour, people at the tables ahead of you ordering food–regardless of where you look, the place is thriving. Whether people are there for the actual wrestling show taking place, or are just there to see friends and go for drinks after a long week at work, it’s truly one of the best and most inviting venues I’ve ever had the pleasure of going to.
Entering the actual event space where the show is taking place, there’s a shift in the excitement. The anticipation takes on another level once you see the ring, see the chairs set up around the space, see the entrance way, and the production equipment. Because it’s such an intimate space, people try their best as soon as they enter to flock toward their usual spots, towards their usual group of friends if they’re regulars, or alternatively, straight to the bar. For that hour or so (“Britwres time” is something you get used to over time), the sense of community and familiarity is apparent–it’s intimidating at first, but once you’re in the space and you strike up conversation with a familiar face or try to settle in with a group of people with similarly overwhelmed expressions, those nerves settle quickly. And if they don’t, you can always speak to the Lollipunk Lady to voice your concerns–Emily and the team are invaluable when it comes to inclusivity and making sure you have the best night you can.
EVE is a space where you’re welcome to be who you are, to feel whatever it is you’re feeling, and ultimately, to enjoy a great night out of punk rock pro-wrestling, comedy, cabaret, and more. It’s a grassroots movement fighting for change in the industry, for a fairer and more equal spotlight for women in wrestling, and for societal change and acceptance in the world more broadly. The passion from everyone involved, from the promoters, to the crew, to the wrestlers, to the audience themselves, is palpable.
Aside from the wrestling, you get world-class burlesque and cabaret as part of the night’s festivities–usually just before and after the interval. Names like Foufou Kaboom, Gigi Tonic, and Tizzy Von Tassle, among others, have graced the EVE ring with their talents, keeping the crowds hot and energised for the latter halves of the show. Hosts, including the phenomenal Sikisa and Loose Willis, are experts in getting the audience comfortable, excited for the night ahead, and making them feel involved in the natural crowd-work they implement as part of their role. Regardless of what area or aspect of the show you look at, it is clear that there is a distinct love for EVE, not just as a professional wrestling product, but as a time/place people look forward to every month for the social side. Whether it’s grabbing a few drinks before the show with some friends as you all trickle through the door from different areas of town, or the late-night chats at merch and the walk back to try and catch the last Overground train, EVE nights are ones you’ll remember for a long time.
Pro-Wrestling: EVE are consistently putting spotlights on the country’s top talent, as well as bringing in the best of the best from overseas, collectively establishing the promotion as one of the best in the UK for atmosphere, match quality and more. I cannot wait for their next few shows and the memories that will be made there.
